1 CGHC010270592026 2026:CGHC:30210 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR MCRCA No. 1117 of 2026 1 - Panchram Meravi S/o Jethuram Meravi Aged About 38 Years R/o Village- Bantipathra Police Station Taregaon Jangal District- Kabirdham (C.G.) 2 - Pansari Baiga S/o Raju Baiga Aged About 46 Years R/o Village- Lalmati Police Station - Taregaon Jangal District- Kabirdham (C.G.) ... Applicants versus State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Station House Officer, Police Station Taregaon Jangal District- Kabirdham (C.G.) ... Non-Applicant For Applicants : Shri Ravi Kumar Banjare, Advocate. For Non-Applicant : Shri Sumit Singh, Deputy AG. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice Order on Board 16/07/2026 1. This first anticipatory bail application under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 has been filed by the applicants, who are apprehending their arrest in connection with KRISHNA KUMAR BARVE Digitally signed by KRISHNA KUMAR BARVE Date: 2026.07.16 19:24:03 +0530 2 Crime No.13/2026 registered at Police Station – Taregaon Jangal, District – Kabirdham (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 299 & 3 (5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968. 2. The prosecution story, in brief, is that the complainant has lodged a written complaint with the concerned Police Station stating that Pansari Baiga and his relative Panchram Meravi, who is Pastor and follows Christianity, have been calling her for the last 2 months and her son every Sunday to the prayer place situated at the house of Pasnari Baiga. On the pretext of curing her ailing son, by giving false assurances, offering monetary inducement and exerting pressure, they attempted to compel them to accept the Christian religion. They also opposed getting her sick son treated elsewhere and allegedly stated that their deities namely, Naga Baiga, Naga Baigin, etc. possessed no power and had no capacity to cure her son. According to the complainant, the applicants continuously pressurized her and his minor son to accept Christianity.Thereafter FIR was registered. Hence, the bail application. 3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicants are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. He further submits that no prima facie case is made out against the applicants. The essential ingredients of Section 299 of the BNS are missing. The applicants belong to ST category. Therefore the applicants be released on anticipatory bail. 3 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel opposes the anticipatory bail application. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused all of the documents taken on record. 6. Considering submissions of learned counsel for the parties and further considering the allegations levelled against the applicants, this Court is inclined to extend the benefit of anticipatory bail to the applicants. 7. Accordingly, the instant MCRCA is allowed and it is directed that in the event of arrest of the applicant – Panchram Meravi & Pansari Baiga, on executing a personal bond with one surety each in the like sum to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer, they shall be released on bail on the following conditions:- (a) they should not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the Court. (b) they should not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. (c) they should appear before the trial Court on each and every date given to him by the said Court till disposal of the trial. (d) The Applicant and the sureties shall submit a copy of their adhaar card alongwith a colored postcard full size photo having printed the adhaar number on it, which shall be verified by the trial Court. 4 (e) they should not involve themselves in any offence of similar nature in future. Sd/- (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Barve